So in this exercise participants keep lists of words in a notebook as a resource – this allows writers to flex voice because you are thinking about the specific vocabulary to describe the character, or words the character would use as a description of self. This work also engages envisionment – which happily is a powerful comprehension skill that conflates to what we want readers to do – step into your characters shoes -where will your writing & reading take you.

The exercise is asking us to take a current work in progress, take three or four of your characters and create Word Hoards for them. I don’t have that right now – but I’m going to try it anyway:

Interesting exercise because I could see how to do this with children, have them collect words in their notebooks – drawn out of read aloud lessons, guided reading, partnership work – it’d be a fantastic Independent Reading response too. Then use them to develop their characters. Interesting way to go about it – I’ve never done this before but I can see how this works. Just by doing this a story is unfolding in my head – love this never would have thought of it – very original.